The three listeners looked at each other. And Neale started, as if at some sudden reminiscence, and he spoke quickly. "I've heard Mr. Horbury speak of his school-days at Selburgh!" he said. "And--now I come to think of it--he had some books with the school coat-of-arms on the sides--prizes." "Just so!" remarked Hollis. "I remember Jack Horbury very well indeed, though I never saw him after I left school, nor heard of him either, until I saw all this news about him in the papers. Of course, your missing bank manager is the John Horbury my brother and I were at school with! And I take it that the reason my brother came down to Scarnham last Saturday was--to see John Horbury." Starmidge had been listening to all this with close attention. He was now more than ever convinced that he was at last on some track--but so far he could not see many steps ahead. Nevertheless, his next step was clearly enough discernible. "You say you saw your brother some eight or nine months ago, sir?" he remarked. "Did he mention Mr. Horbury to you at that time?" "No, he didn't," replied Hollis. "Did he ever--recently, I mean--ever mention his name to you in a letter?" asked Starmidge. "No--never! I don't know," said Hollis, "that he or I ever spoke to each other of John Horbury from the time we left school. John Horbury was not, as it were, a very particular chum of ours. We knew him--as we knew a hundred other boys. As I have already told you, the two names, Horbury, Scarnham, in the newspapers yesterday, immediately recalled John Horbury, our schoolmate, to me. Up to then, I don't suppose I'd ever thought of him for--years! And I don't suppose he'd ever thought of me, or of my brother. Yet--I feel sure my brother came here to see him. For business reasons, I suppose?" "The odd thing about that, Mr. Hollis," remarked Polke, "is that we can't find the slightest reason, either from anybody here, or from your brother's clerk in London, why your brother should come to see Horbury, whether for business, or for any other purpose. And as to his remembering Mr. Frederick Hollis, well, here's Mr. Neale--Mr. Horbury was his guardian--and Mr. Neale, of course, has known him all his life. Now, Mr. Neale never heard him mention Mr. Frederick Hollis by name at any time. And there's now staying in the town Mr. Horbury's niece, Miss Fosdyke; she, too, never heard her uncle speak of any Mr. Hollis. Then, as to business--the partners at Chestermarke's Bank declare that they know nothing whatever of your brother--Mr. Gabriel, the senior partner, has seen the poor gentleman, and didn't recognize him. So--we at any rate, are as wise as ever. We don't know what your brother came here for!" Hollis bowed his head in full acceptance of the superintendent's remarks. But he looked up at Starmidge and smiled.